5th - 6th January 2025

Monday, 6th January: Heavy overnight rain and a strong SW wind force 6, continuing into the morning as the rain began to ease to become more drizzly. Then becoming drier and brighter with sunny periods, as the wind veered to the NW but turned noticeably cooler.

Elmer Rocks: Just a brief visit of about half an hour, producing just a single Red-throated Diver which flew east before dropping onto the sea, six Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, four Mediterranean Gulls back and forth and a couple of Oystercatchers on the beach.

Climping Gap: A look around the Ferry Road area of set-aside eventually produced a single Jack Snipe and up to eight Common Snipe, whilst around the fields nearby were 40 Linnets, several Reed Buntings and two Stonechats but little else.

I then diverted to the Arundel area and Wildfowl Trust - so a little beyond the boundaries of the 5 Km patch - before returning for a look at Bilsham farm. On the reservoir were 24 Tufted Ducks, four Shoveler, two Wigeon, four Little Grebes and 75 Coots. A Kestrel was hunting the fields nearby but there was nothing beyond the normal on a fairly quiet day.

Drake Wigeon on Bilsham reservoir

Sunday, 5th January: Heavy overnight rain, leading into a wet, windy and miserable day, with overcast grey skies and a strong to near gale force wind SW 6-7.

Elmer Rocks: Well I did try for a while, but visibility offshore was dire and the constant wet and windy conditions finally beat me I'm afraid, so this is basically a report about almost nothing! There were just a few gulls along the shoreline; mainly Herring but also a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls, whilst a small flock of Turnstones dropped in with a single Sanderling. A rather forlorn Cormorant battled into the wind, before I took my cue to leave. Sometimes you just have to give in!

1st - 3rd January 2025

Friday, 3rd January: A heavy frost followed by another cold, sparkling and sunny winter's day, with a light NW breeze 2-3.

Climping Gap: I set out on a mission to find a Jack Snipe today, but failed on that score, with no Common Snipe either, perhaps suitable habitat was just too frozen. There were compensations however; a Dartford Warbler was in a set-aside field with a total of eight Stonechats, whilst a total of 25 Reed Buntings and three Yellowhammers were also present. A flock of at least 30 Pied Wagtails was feeding in a flooded arable field, but the most notable species was Skylark, with two different large flocks totalling at least 120 birds. On my way back there were a few Linnets, a Bullfinch was in the Kents farm area and a single Chiffchaff was also located.

Stonechat and Reed Buntings in the set-aside at Climping

Thursday, 2nd January: A complete and very welcome change today, with the overnight rain and wind having passed through, to leave a frosty clear morning in bright sunny conditions and a light NE breeze 2-3.

Lidsey WTW and area: An early afternoon visit on the patch on my way back home, having spent a fine morning on the Selsey Peninsula. The small reservoir area held just three Shoveler and 15 Gadwall, together with 40 Black-headed Gulls and a single Grey Wagtail around the water's edge. The nearby works held another Grey Wagtail, plus half a dozen Mallard on a flood and a flock of 25 Chaffinch and several Collared Doves, all feeding on a steamy pile of screenings, before retreating to the adjacent hedges every so often. A Cetti's Warbler was singing occasionally from the perimeter of the works and at least 12 Chiffchaffs were also present.

Rooks were very obvious, with 100+ feeding in the fields, but the highlight today was a total of at least 120 Redwings; they were feeding en masse in a maize stubble field, then frequently returning to the trees surrounding the fields before dropping back down to feed. A fine sight, the like of which I haven't seen locally for some time, so presumably the cold weather had prompted their arrival. A flock of up to 40 Pied Wagtails was also feeding in the field, whilst a local Buzzard was reluctant to fly from the area, as I approached.

Gadwalls with Black-headed Gulls at Lidsey and Common Buzzard 

Wednesday, 1st January 2025: The predicted conditions duly arrived overnight, bringing in a stormy start to the New Year. This morning there was a full SW gale force 8, gusting to force 9, with leaden grey skies and constant light rain being driven through at speed by the wind, producing very rough seas and fairly awful visibility for much of the time; strong winds and heavier rain by afternoon! 

Elmer Rocks: I managed to watch from a sheltered spot near the Kiosk (08:15-10:45hr) but visibility offshore was often very poor, as I started my new yearlist. It was a fairly dismal start I have to admit, but I did add Gannet (3W), Great Black-backed Gull (5), Brent Goose (5W), Sanderling (3), Turnstone (12) and Oystercatcher (2) amongst some other commoner species. Time to abandon as the rain increased, but at least I'm just about off the mark!

(above) adult Great Black-backed Gull, (below) Sanderlings, and (bottom) a rough sea and awful visibility offshore at Elmer Rocks this morning.

29th - 31st December 2024

Tuesday, 31st December: A grey, mainly cloudy day, although still mild, with the odd shower and a fairly strong SW wind force 5-6 through the morning, increasing as the day moved on, before going downhill by late afternoon. A forecast of gales, heavy rain and stormy conditions through the night and into the following morning....not a great start predicted for the New Year!

Despite the weather, may I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Hotham Park: Following my recent posting (on 29th Dec) regarding this location, I was pleased to be contacted by two birders who do visit the site regularly and submit records, with additional information also supplied, (with thanks to Chris S and Caroline T).

Elmer Rocks: Rough conditions today and with the weather due to deteriorate, a couple of hours spent looking at the sea (09:00-11:00hr) was the only realistic option. There was a bit on the move - mainly Brent Geese and Gannets - although there wasn't much variety, as my last visit of the year drew to a close....as below:

Gannet - 70W

Red-breasted Merganser - 4o/s, 6W

Brent Goose - 7E, 55W

Razorbill - 2o/s, 8W

Auk sp - 5W

Turnstone - 25

Mediterranean Gull - 2

Common Gull - 2

Brent Geese (top two), Gannet (below) and Turnstones (bottom) at Elmer Rocks this morning.

Monday, 30th December: A bit milder, though still generally grey and overcast with a few brief light drizzly interludes and a fairly light to moderate breeze W2-3.

Ancton & Elmer: A day to clear household jobs and some admin, before the rush of the birding New Year. However, whilst gardening at about 15:30hr I suddenly heard a familiar call. Looking around I saw two Ring-necked Parakeets flying west at fairly close range...presumably on their way to roost somewhere.

This was a welcome surprise for me, being a new bird for my M-o-S parish list. This species is of course very familiar to those of you originating from the London area, but it is still surprisingly scarce at the moment in this little corner of West Sussex.

Sunday, 29th December: More of the same, with another grey, gloomy and overcast day and a very light N/NW breeze with some fog, though less than in recent days.

Hotham Park (Bognor): Looking for a bit of a change this morning, I decided to visit this lovely park, of which I have fond childhood memories. The entire park sits comfortably within the 5Km patch boundary; I wasn't expecting too much, but the site holds a variety of mature trees and there had to be a chance of something, plus I haven't seen any birding reports from here in a very long time. 

I was glad I visited in the end, for within a short time I found a number of birds of interest, with no less than four Firecrests, a Goldcrest, a Coal Tit and some Long-tailed Tits. Best of all for me though was a Nuthatch - a hard bird indeed to get on the local patch year list. Other species included Grey Heron, Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Goldfinch.

I feel sure I'll be making more visits; ok, it can get busy with walkers and families visiting, but pick your times and its a pleasant place to be - with the added bonus of a café and toilet facilities!

The interpretation board at the park, produced by Arun DC, gives a good deal of information (and they have a website).

26th - 28th December 2024

Saturday, 28th December: The settled spell of high pressure continues, bringing anti-cyclonic gloom and grey overcast skies with it, though it remains generally mild. Wind very light N/NW 1-2, with murky conditions, though thankfully not foggy along the coast locally today.

I should mention here that yesterday I abandoned the local area to go twitching, making an early-morning start and heading to Ham Hill WTW, New Hythe GPs, Kent. It was mainly foggy and cold all day and after arrival a long wait of nearly five hours ensued, before the star rarity - an American Yellow Warbler - eventually showed itself briefly just a few times, before disappearing again. Never mind, mission accomplished and I set off for home on a high, with a warm and happy glow. That was to change when I reached the M20/M26/M25 - a really massive traffic jam and my expected journey time of about two hours took about four. I was still happy but completely knackered when I got back.

Part of the crowd trying to see the rare warbler mentioned above, near a sewage works....which may be a bit of a shock to any non-birders reading this! Such is the attraction of a top-class rarity, known in birding circles as a 'mega'. It was a bit of a scramble at times, but the crowd was well behaved.

Elmer Rocks: After yesterday's exertions I took it a bit easy this morning, not arriving at the local beach much before 09:00 and planning a gentle stroll to blow away the cobwebs, so to speak. As it turned out, it was a much better and busier morning than expected, with the high tide and flat calm sea assisting observations...

Gannet - 3E, 7W

Great Crested Grebe - 8 o/s

Red-throated Diver - a peak of at least 16 o/s, 20E & 5W

Wigeon - 3 o/s

Velvet Scoter - 1W

Red-breasted Merganser - 45 o/s at various ranges from close to quite distant; some males displaying

Razorbill - c.100 W and/or o/s

Auk sp - c.100 W, more distant but probably most or all also Razorbills

Turnstone - 65 in two flocks dropped onto rock islands

Sanderling - 10 with Turnstones

Ringed Plover - 25 on rock islands

Pied Wagtail - two behind beach

Chiffchaff - 1 in tamarisk bushes along path

Gloomy conditions for photos, but (above) Red-throated Diver, (below) Turnstones and a few Sanderling arriving and (bottom two) Red-breasted Mergansers offshore

Boxing Day, Thursday, 26th December 2024: A fairly calm but dismally grey and very mild day, with high pressure dominating and producing persistent damp conditions with low drizzly cloud throughout.

Bilsham farm: I didn't venture out until I needed to get some fresh air by early afternoon, making only a visit to the reservoir area and adjoining fields. There wasn't much change since my last visit - hardly surprising give the mild conditions - and I logged only 21 Tufted Ducks, two Shoveler, three Little Grebes and 65 Coots. Gull numbers were average and consisted of the regular species, including four Mediterranean and 40 Common Gulls.

Around the periphery were just a couple of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits. A flock of c.70 Linnets and a few Skylarks flew up from a crop field before flying off and a single Stonechat completed a rather dreary outing.

Tufted Ducks were the only highlight on a dreary afternoon at Bilsham reservoir; note also the two Little Grebes in the background.

24th December 2024

Tuesday, 24th December: A grey, misty and murky morning, though very mild, with a light to moderate breeze W3.

A small gardening mishap yesterday, when I tripped and tweaked my knee, means I'm confined to barracks right now, but I should be back very soon after Christmas. 

Meanwhile, may I just take the opportunity to wish all visitors to this little blog site a 

Very Merry Christmas and thank you all for your support and kind comments.

20th - 22nd December 2024

Sunday, 22nd December: A cold, bright and very breezy morning with sunny periods in a blustery NW wind 5-6, gusting to force 7, with cloud increasing by afternoon.

Elmer Rocks: Predictably slow in the brisk NW wind. A few brief looks at the sea were not productive with little moving offshore, whilst along the shore and rock islands were 15+ Mediterranean Gulls, half a dozen Oystercatchers and c.25 Turnstones. A walk along the back of the beach and the set-aside was also quiet, but there was a single Chiffchaff, plus three Linnets, two Pied Wagtails and a Green Woodpecker which flushed from near the main path and flew into a palm tree in a beachside garden.

Green Woodpecker in a beachside garden palm tree, having flushed from near the footpath.

Bilsham farm: A Pochard was new in on the reservoir, whilst Tufted Duck numbers had increased to 23, but it was otherwise much as before, with just a pair of Shoveler, c.80 Coots and several Little Grebes.

Pochard (centre left) with Tufted Ducks on Bilsham reservoir

Friday, 20th December: A chilly start with a touch of overnight frost, bright and sunny at first in a moderate NW breeze force 4, but gradually clouding over as the day progressed and the wind freshened. Rainy by late afternoon.

Lidsey WTW and area: A flock of 20 Gadwall was flushed from the WTW by workmen and there were several Pied Wagtails on the filter pans but little else. Nearby were just 10 Shoveler, a single Teal, two Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. However, in the trees and hedgerows around the perimeter of the works there were a good number of Chiffchaffs feeding on swarms of insects; I estimated at least 20 birds, although I couldn't find any paler ones amongst them today.

(above) female Shoveler and (below) Chiffchaff feeding around the WTW...note the swarm of insect food!

Moving on to another nearby area away from the WTW things picked up with a nice little bit of variety. A splendid male Marsh Harrier flew over a reedy area, whilst nearby were a Snipe, 40 Linnets, six Song Thrushes, a Chiffchaff, two Stonechats and then a surprise Dartford Warbler. The biggest surprise for me however came when I was leaving and making my way along a footpath and back to my car, when suddenly a flock of five Bullfinches - three males and two females - flew into some low trees ahead of me. As I watched whilst fumbling to get my camera from its case they soon decided to fly off in typical fashion, just before I was ready! Bullfinch is becoming increasingly uncommon in our little corner of the world and is never easy to see on the patch; I can't remember when I last saw five  together anywhere!

Marsh Harrier over a reedy area at Lidsey and (bottom) Stonechat nearby

17th - 19th December 2024

Thursday, 19th December: A cool but bright, dry and breezy day with plenty of sunny breaks through the cloud and a blustery NW wind force 5-6/7, easing a bit later.

Elmer Rocks: Although generally quiet there was a little more than expected this morning, the best being a Great Northern Diver flying west offshore. Other seabirds logged included Red-throated Diver - 3E, Gannet - 3W, Red-breasted Merganser - 3E & 1o/s, Brent Goose - 1W and Mediterranean Gull - 4 on the beach.

The tamarisk hedges between the Kiosk and the Boat compound held two Chiffchaffs, whilst a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker could again be heard at some distance in the woodland.

Bilsham farm: Tufted Duck numbers had increased to 19, but these apart, there was a notable decrease in the other species present, with just a single pair of Shoveler, five or six Little Grebes and 80 Coots. Gulls were fewer too, with 54 Common Gulls well down on last week's totals of 200+. Things were not helped when a Buzzard appeared and began hovering for a while low over the reservoir, in hunting mode, scattering most of the birds present!

Buzzard hunting over Bilsham reservoir; hovering over the water (above) and then moving away, having scattered everything!

Tuesday, 17th December: A dry, mild, though fairly grey and cloudy day, with a fresh SSW wind force 4-5.

Elmer Rocks: A predictably quiet morning as I walked my usual circuit, stopping occasionally to check the sea. A large flock of gulls - perhaps up to a couple of thousand - was distantly offshore apparently on a feeding frenzy and I could just make up several Gannets amongst them, whilst two further Gannets also passed east later, considerably closer. A Great Crested Grebe and two Brent Geese also flew east offshore, whilst 12 Turnstones went west close in and a couple of Oystercatchers were feeding along the beach. Six Mediterranean Gulls were also along the beach amongst other gulls.

Away from the beach it was also very quiet, the best being a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming repeatedly, making an early start to proclaim a territory, and a single Chiffchaff in the tamarisk hedge by the Kiosk.

Gannets flying east offshore past Elmer Rocks

Mediterranean Gull (adult) along the beach at Elmer Rocks. I'm often asked by interested local non-birders about different types of 'seagulls' and I try to explain about just how attractive this species is, with its distinctive call and pristine wings with no black on the wing-tips. Hopefully these images give some idea of what I mean,